Louis Vuitton has unveiled its first freestanding store in Montreal at Royalmount, Quebec’s largest private development. It’s one of the largest Louis Vuitton stores in Canada, spanning more than 9,000 square feet.
The new Royalmount Louis Vuitton location offers a full spectrum of the Maison’s prestigious métiers, including accessories, leather goods, ready-to-wear, fine jewelry, fragrances, and its most coveted bespoke items.
The Royalmount store represents Louis Vuitton’s second location in Montreal, complementing its existing downtown concession space at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy. It also marks Louis Vuitton’s 10th store in Canada, reinforcing the Maison’s growing footprint across the country.
The new opening is part of a broader series of fall initiatives for Louis Vuitton in Canada, including an exclusive Trunk Show in Toronto held in September, and the highly anticipated release of the City Guide Toronto next month, available both in print and digitally.
A Grand Destination of Craftsmanship and Art
Louis Vuitton’s Montreal location offers what it says is an immersive experience that marries the brand’s heritage with forward-thinking design. The two-toned limestone façade of the store draws inspiration from the iconic Damier pattern, originally created by Louis Vuitton in 1888. Unique to North America, the architectural detail sets the Royalmount location apart. Inside, the inviting ambiance is enriched by the use of natural materials, such as petrified wood, shell, and stone, giving the store an organic yet modern feel.
Complementing the design is a curated collection of contemporary art that transforms the retail environment into a gallery-like experience. Works by renowned artists, including Lautaro Cuttia, Heidi Spector, and Benna Holden, energize the space with bold colours and abstractions.
Particularly striking is a piece by Canadian artist Jonathan Forrest, whose rainbow-hued acrylic chevrons add vibrant depth to the space. Additionally, vintage Louis Vuitton advertisements and catalog entries from the brand’s Paris archive are displayed, creating a dialogue between the brand’s storied past and its innovative present.
Design-build firm SAJO was responsible for bringing the store to life. SAJO also is building the new Tiffany & Co. at Royalmount that will open in several months.
Presence in Canada
Louis Vuitton’s presence in Canada spans several decades and includes a growing network of stores in key cities. The first Louis Vuitton location in the country opened in 1983 at 110 Bloor Street West in Toronto. The store marked the beginning of the brand’s expansion in the Canadian luxury market. Over the years, Louis Vuitton upgraded its Toronto footprint, moving to an 18,000 square-foot Maison at 150 Bloor Street West in 2012. The flagship location, which remains the brand’s largest store in Canada, showcases Louis Vuitton’s full range of products, from accessories to ready-to-wear.
Vancouver was the next major city to host Louis Vuitton when a concession opened at Holt Renfrew in 1987. The brand’s first standalone store in Vancouver followed in 1996, located at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. This store was significantly expanded in 2010 to a 10,000 square-foot space, making it the first Louis Vuitton Maison in Canada.
In Calgary, Louis Vuitton opened a 4,450 square-foot standalone store at CF Chinook Centre in 2018, after exiting its downtown concession at Holt Renfrew. The brand expanded with a 4,600 square foot storefront at West Edmonton Mall in 2019 after also exiting the Edmonton’s downtown Holt Renfrew, which has since closed.
Montreal’s relationship with Louis Vuitton dates back to 1989, with the opening of a concession at Ogilvy. Louis Vuitton has maintained a presence in the building, now Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, since then.
Louis Vuitton also operates concessions at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver and Toronto (Bloor Street and Yorkdale). A source told Retail Insider that earlier this month, a high jewellery purchase of about $5 million was made at Louis Vuitton’s Vancouver concession at Holt Renfrew, breaking records for the brand.
Exceptionally underwhelming. Compared to their tries in other markets, they’re not investing in anything special here. Canada again seems to be only a box to check for some retailers.
My apologies if this feels negative in tone, I just expected more from LV.